02 Sunday Oct 2016
Posted in Paris guide, Paris photos, Paris Walks
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Taking time to chill with a little (hastily put together) slide show. Join me for a petite tour along the Seine and rue Rivoli. Warning, it’s super slow.
23 Tuesday Aug 2016
Posted in Paris shopping, Paris tips, Paris Walks
No one wants to look like a dweeb, unstylish, unhip, touristy. Just what are they wearing in Paris? What’s trendy? If you do your research on the internet you’ll come up with hundreds of opinions. Pinterest has all sorts of looks to sort through. Fashion houses, magazines, blogs featuring beautiful models in eyecatching yet unpractical ensemble are misleading. There is no ONE answer, it’s all about you and the confidence you have with what suits you. At the end of the day, after walking all over the city, one factor comes to mind: comfort. So start with that, just don’t look sloppy.
A good rule of thumb is to sit in a cafe on a hip street like Rue Montorgueil and watch the passerbys. You’ll end up with load of ideas that you can immediately take to Galeries Lafayette, Bon Marche, Zara, H&M or cool little boutiques in the Marais. The right purse, scarf, shoes all add up to one great “feel good” look just for you.
Some links that will serve you well:
http://dresslikeaparisian.com/what-to-wear-in-paris/
http://www.parisinsidersguide.com/what-to-wear-in-paris.html
http://travelfashiongirl.com/what-to-wear-in-paris-packing-list-and-capsule-wardrobe-ideas/
http://photoparismode.com/paris-fashion-show/index.php/paris-street-style/2015-printemps-ete-rtw
http://www.whowhatwear.com/staple-pieces-that-were-once-trends/slide23
Confusing? Understandable. Just start with the basics, go light, come back chic/cool.
20 Wednesday Jan 2016
Posted in Paris guide, Paris photos, Paris travel, Paris Walks
The No Worries Paris guide, that is. The stock market is plummeting, the political candidate news is disturbing, cheap oil is affecting world markets, there’s trouble in the Middle East, and there are epic storms predicted for the East Coast, but there is still Paris.
A few random pages from the book (or ebook) to inspire your walks are below. There’s no shortage of maps, photos or street by street directions. Have a look:
In a nutshell, No Worries Paris takes readers on a visually luscious journey to the city’s striking monuments, as well as into the cobblestone crannies of its villages and along the glamorous fashion boulevards.
Virtually all of Paris is covered in 10 Walking Tours, each with its own map. Walks take from a half-day to a day to complete, starting at one Metro stop and ending at another. The tours are complemented by 10 Promenades, which are shorter in length, taking in the sights around a single attraction, mainly on the fringes of city’s arrondissiments. No Worries Paris is sure to meet expectations the famous sights s of Paris but it is also full of surprises at out-of-the way places.
The time is now. Gather up all the acorns you’ve saved over the years, raid the stash under your matrress or max out your credit card. Air fares have never been better.
“Getting around the City of Light should be a cinch. And it is on paper. Then reality gets in the way. There is so much to see, so much to eat. What to do? Jerry and Janine Sprout have made it trouble-free for visitors to Paris by dividing the city into walking tours that take a half to a full day, depending on your pace, and cover anywhere from a few miles to a maximum of six. The promenades in the book are shorter, taking about half a day. Each tour starts and ends at a Metro stop, and there is plenty of time set aside for detours, stops and just wandering. All the famous spots (Trocadero, Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysees, Notre Dame, Latin Quarter, Montmartre) and neighborhoods are here.” —-Chicago Tribune
06 Wednesday Jan 2016
Posted in Paris tips, Paris travel, Paris Walks, Paris Wandering
Out of Paris’s 400 parks, the tucked-away Square Georges Cain, an oasis of greenery, gets my vote for poetic escapes. Maybe it’s the circular design, the gardeners’ decision to fill the center surrounding the statue of Aurore with a sea of orange long-stemmed roses in the spring, or to color coordinate all the other flowers with a pastel palette to complement the archeological relics around the perimeter. The sign at the park’s entrance reads “colors too bright would monopolize the view of the passer by.” Walk in, sit down and I guarantee you’ll feel soothed. There always seems to be an empty bench, just how the neighborhood regulars like it.
Who was Georges? Answer: a painter and writer who was a long time curator (1897-1914) at the Carnavalet Museum.
Pieces from the history of Paris dispersed in the square include the remains of the previous Town Hall, Merovingian sarcophagi, and the pediment of the central pavilion of the Tuileries Palace still blackened from the fire that destroyed it.
If you intend to visit Musee Picasso or Musee Carnavalet, this is a place to head for afterwards . Your feet will thank you and you’ll have a chance to read your No Worries Paris guide for where-to-next inspiration.
Stay long enough and you might have a chance to hear ” Le Rossignol Electrique’ by Eric Samakh (1990), a small electronic bird that starts singing whenever the wind blows (iffy in the summer).
7 rue Payenne
75003 Paris
District : Le Marais
07 Monday Dec 2015
Posted in paris patisseries, Paris shopping, Paris Walks, Paris Wandering
Pass beneath the iron filagree gate and you’ll enter a street like no other in Paris. Trust me, you won’t make it through this neighborhood without buying something: fine pastries, cheeses, chocolates, rotisserie, charcuterie, flowers, all gourmet quality. Not a shopper?, then take it all in at one of the cafes or restaurants dotting every corner. A happening place full of history and authenticity. Historic houses decorated with elaborate ironwork can be found at #17, #23, and #25, Rue Montorgueil. Many of the buildings on the street also feature painted facades.
Pedestrians rejoice. A few delivery trucks make their way through at times but mostly you’re free to saunter along sniffing and devouring all the colorful activity with your eyes. Cameras down, enjoy the moment and the buzz of the locals. Rue Montorgueil’s name translates literally to “Mount Pride”. Kids love this street; watch for the walking balloon vendor.
Tips: Charles Chocolatier, Stohrer patisserie, Le Rocher de Cancale, L’escargot are some of the places you’ll want to stop in. Streets including Rue Dussoubs and Rue Saint-Sauveur date to the 11th century.
How to get here:
Metro:
Etienne Marcel (Line 4)
Sentier (Line 3)
Réaumur Sebastopol (Lines 3 & 4)
Pages 85-86 in the No Worries Paris guidebook. Find it on Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com
23 Thursday Jul 2015
Posted in Paris guide, Paris tips, Paris travel, Paris Walks
On the border between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, the Luxembourg Gardens, inspired by the Boboli Gardens in Florence, were created upon the initiative of Queen Marie de Medici in 1612. It’s a happy place full of kids, chair squatters, strolling conversationalists and lovers. My mood, my energy level, my fantasy dreams of Paris are always elevated here no matter what season.
The gardens are split into French gardens and English gardens. Between the two, lies a geometric forest and a large pond. There is also an orchard with a variety of old and forgotten apples, an apiary for you to learn about bee-keeping and greenhouses with a collection of breathtaking orchids and a rose garden. The garden has 106 statues spread throughout the park, the monumental Medici fountain, the Orangerie and the Pavillon Davioud.
Who could ask for anything more?
A place to sit and plan your day’s walking itinerary with your good ol’ guidebook: No Worries Paris.
Address: 6th arrondissement of Paris, 75006
01 Friday May 2015
Posted in Paris tips, Paris Walks
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Though you don’t spot many tourists with them, binoculars can be a good thing. Don’t always rely on your telephoto. Ever thought of ditching your camera, not recording what you see mechanically and absorbing the entire scene with your heart, soul, mind? Some curiosities you might spot on the way. Wishing you many happy souvenirs, experiences and memories.
29 Sunday Mar 2015
Posted in Paris Walks, Paris Wanderings
Every bridge across the Seine has fascinating history and its own certain charm but the one that gets most votes from camera toting tourists has to be Pont Alexandre III. A graceful arch, loaded with art nouveau sculptures, and anchored by four pillars disguised as works of art, the bridge was built and named for a dual purpose.
The Universal Exhibition (1900’s World Fair) was being staged on either side of the Seine and a structure for transporting visitors between exhibits was part of the plan. That a bridge be constructed bearing the name of Czar Alexander III was a gesture to encourage the development of a Franco-Russian friendship, a sort of counterweight to the growing might of Germany. The first stone was laid by Czar Nicholas II in October 1896, who followed Alexander III to the throne in 1894.
Day and night the bridge is captivating. Barge and vehicle traffic as well as commentary from the open air tourist ferries amp up the volume. Look both ways for a direct view of Invalides (Napoleon’s Tomb), Petit and Grand Palais and squint for the Champs Elysees. The engineers were instructed to build the Alexandre a certain height for this very reason. The French like to line their monuments up. Take for example, the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Arch de Triumph and La Defense.
Tour Number One in your No Worries Paris guides you to this bridge. You might want to linger for more than a few minutes.
30 Tuesday Dec 2014
Posted in Paris travel, Paris Walks
Normally admission to the Hotel de Ville is by guided tour only. But, once a year, Paris’s mayor opens the doors to the public on Heritage Days. This year I was lucky enough to spend three hours at City Hall wandering the halls dazzled by the crystal chandeliers, stained glass, sculptures, paintings, elaborate ceilings framed in gold, adorned with pink cherubs, winged horses, historic insignias, French portraits.
The library and council room were open for inspection. Many works from the collections of the Municipal Contemporary Art Fund added a visual twist in many of the salons and governmental offices. In the back of my mind was the fact that the inside of the building was totally destroyed by fire during the 1871 revolution. It took 19 years to reconstruct and furnish this treasure. Make it to next year’s open house or schedule a guided tour.
The Protocol Department organizes free visits of the Hôtel de Ville‘s Reception Rooms, with commentary, from Monday to Friday.
For groups contact the department at 00 33 (1) 42 76 54 04. Book approximately two months in advance – but late-comers can also try their luck! Languages: French, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian Duration: 1 hour
For individuals a weekly visit is available in French (two weekly in summer). Groups can accommodate 30 people max. The dates and times are fixed on the Thursday preceding the visit.
Register at the Hospitality Suite, 29 Rue de Rivoli (4th arr) from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm. or call 00 33 (1) 42 76 43 43 (Monday to Saturday 10am to 7pm).
Or call the Protocol Department: 00 33 (1) 42 76 50 49 or 00 33 (1) 42 76 54 04
Access for visits is at 5 Rue Lobau (4th), at the back of the building.
Metro: Hôtel de Ville.
NO WORRIES PARIS 